Planet of the Apes Slot Review

We’re pretty sure that very few of our readers will be familiar with the 1963 novel La Planète des Singes by French author Pierre Boulle. But we think you might be a bit more familiar with the film adaption: 1968’s Planet of the Apes, starring Charlton Heston. That was the beginning of a blockbuster media franchise that still exists today, thanks to the most recent reboot, which began in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. With additional movies being released in 2014 and 2017, the films have now taken in over $2 million at the box office worldwide, making this one of the largest cinematic franchises in recent memory.

Given that astounding success, it should come as no surprise that this series has also been a popular tie-in for other forms of media and merchandising. That now includes the online casino world, thanks to the introduction of Planet of the Apes by NetEnt, one of the latest releases from the highly respected online slots provider. Featuring content from two of the newest films in the franchise, this is a game that will appeal both to movie buffs and serious gamblers thanks to some interesting special features and a unique dual reels format.

More CGI Gorillas, Less Charlton Heston

The Planet of the Apes video slot is based on the latest reboot of the franchise, and two movies in particular: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Each of these films is responsible for half of the game screen, with each getting its own set of reels for players to enjoy. On each side, you’ll see a plethora of human and ape characters, each of which is presented in crystal clear images pulled directly from the films. Throw in thematic backgrounds, and this machine pulls off the two-in-one effect quite well.

Gamblers have plenty of betting options at their disposal, as they can change the denomination of their coins and the level of their bets. That means that you can bet anywhere from €0.20 to €200, with similar ranges available in other currencies. A free online slots version is also offered for those who want to try before they buy. The game also features compatibility with a wide range of devices, and is fully mobile-optimized, including some great touchscreen features for mobile users.

Two for the Price of One

The Planet of the Apes video slot is two games in one, each of which features five reels and 20 paylines. Each of these two games operates (mostly) independently from the other, which is why you might say this plays like a five-reel machine with 40 paylines in total. On the left side are the “Rise” reels, while the “Dawn” game takes up the left-hand side of the screen. Regardless of the unusual format, the goal is still what you’re used to from so many other online slots: match identical symbols from left to right across your lines.

The basic gameplay is essentially the same on both halves of the machine. For smaller wins, you can look for the poker ranks, ranging from tens up through aces. Moderate payouts come from three unique human symbols that depict various actors from each film. Finally, each game features two ape icons that act as the high-paying characters. In both cases, Caesar offers the largest rewards, paying 600 coins multiplied by your betting level.

The Best Things in Life are Free

There are a couple of special symbols you’ll want to land as often as possible on this machine, starting with some valuable wild symbols. These act as normal substitutes, filling in wherever possible in order to complete winning paylines. On the Dawn game, however, they can come in stacked forms, and when they manage to cover an entire reel, you’ll get an added bonus, as a stacked wild will also appear in the same position on the Rise side of the screen.

In addition, there are separate scatter symbols on both sides that will earn you instant prizes should you find three of either anywhere on their set of reels. This will also trigger a different free spins round depending on which set of scatters you hit. The Rise Free Spins game will earn you 10 spins, during which all of the wild symbols you hit are kept track of. On your final spin, you’ll get all of those wilds added to the reels in random positions. Meanwhile, the Dawn game offers up 15 free spins with the potential to collect extras wilds, more spins, and multipliers throughout the feature.

Go Ape for Bonus Features

There are even more bonus features that can be triggered during gameplay. For instance, the randomly-triggered Dual Feature selects one icon for each play area. While these will stick in place if they appear on the side where they are the chosen icon, if that symbol appears on the opposite side, if will transfer over to the “correct” set of reels, increasing your chances of winning large prizes.

Each side of the machine also has its own bonus symbol. In Rise, hitting this bonus will earn you an additional instant win for every human or ape that appears on that half of the screen. Meanwhile, the Dawn Bonus turns all of your humans and apes into the same exact icon, giving you a shot at creating a lot of valuable win lines all at once.

No Monkey Business Here

While it may not be as unique of a game as some of the other branded NetEnt titles we’ve played over the years, The Planet of the Apes video slot is an excellent adaptation that should be a joy to play both for fans of the movies and for seasoned gamblers. The dual reels format is always a fun one, and the range of bonus features manages to add a lot of gameplay variety without feeling bloated or confusing for new players. If you love these films, or even if you have fond memories of the original series of movies, you’ll want to give these a try at your favorite NetEnt online gambling site.